Abroad for Pleasure

Alternative title: Broken Token

Broken token ballads, in which the sailor breaks a token with his sweetheart in the knowledge that that pieces will be rejoined on his return, are common enough in oral tradition, but a version in which the protagonist is a member of the Gloucestershire Regiment, is unique. According to Wikipedia “The 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1694.” The “Old Braggs” was one of various nicknames given to the regiment. Mr Price learnt this version from Harry Buckland, and it was first published in his book “A Gloucestershire Collection” (1972).